Poland takes helm of NATO's Baltic air policing mission

Poland took over the leadership of NATO's Baltic air policing mission on Tuesday from the Netherlands, NATO said in a press release.

NATO Baltic air policing missions have been carried out since 2004 with NATO allies taking turns deploying their interceptors and staff in the Baltic states in a four-month rotation.

The Polish Air Force's four F-16 fighter aircraft will patrol the skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for a term of four months.

The jets will deploy from their home base at Poznan together with a detachment of pilots, technicians, maintainers and supply staff.

Spain will replace the German Air Force in the mission with five F-18 fighter jets deployed at Estonia's Amari airbase.

Poland has now led the mission six times.